Acoustic information about upper limb movement in voicing

Abstract

<jats:p>We show that the human voice has complex acoustic qualities that are directly coupled to peripheral musculoskeletal tensioning of the body, such as subtle wrist movements. In this study, human vocalizers produced a steady-state vocalization while rhythmically moving the wrist or the arm at different tempos. Although listeners could only hear and not see the vocalizer, they were able to completely synchronize their own rhythmic wrist or arm movement with the movement of the vocalizer which they perceived in the voice acoustics. This study corroborates recent evidence suggesting that the human voice is constrained by bodily tensioning affecting the respiratory–vocal system. The current results show that the human voice contains a bodily imprint that is directly informative for the interpersonal perception of another’s dynamic physical states.</jats:p>

Breathing, voice, and synchronized movement

“…Could other listeners synchronize their movements to recordings of breathing alone? Likewise, we wonder whether movements other than gestures could explain Pouw et al's data (1). Physiology suggests that gestures are not strictly needed for rhythmic sounds to emerge.…”

“…When humans vocalize along with rhythmic arm movements, the recorded voice shows the same rhythmic pattern as these movements (1). When others listen to this voice, their rhythmic movements synchronize with those of the unseen vocalizer (1).…”

“…Pouw et al (1) report rhythmic modulation of fundamental frequency, which is the rate at which vocal folds vibrate. They attribute this rhythmicity to voice modulation.…”

“…Pouw et al (1) conclude that "gestural movements may thus have evolved as an embodied innovation for vocal control," that is, we were gestural apes before becoming vocal apes. There is controversial support for this intriguing "theremin model of speech control" (Fig.…”

“…What we call the "theremin model of speech control" is based on the idea that, while the vocal tract of participants in ref. (1). Gesture requires dexterity, which requires movement (Left).…”